Abraham Viktor Rydberg was a Swedish poet, novelist and archaeologist. He was born in 1828 at Jonkoping and died in 1895. From 1855 to 1877 he edited the Handelstidning of Gothenburg; in 1884 he was appointed professor of the history of civilization at Stockholm, and in 1877 was elected to the Swedish academy. Research Abraham Rydberg
Alfred Bernhard Nobel was a Swedish engineer and the inventor of dynamite. He was born in 1833 at Stockholm and died in 1896. On his death he left money that annual prizes in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and the cause of peace could be made (the Nobel prizes). Research Alfred Nobel
August Strindberg was a Swedish writer. He was born in 1849 at Stockholm and died in 1912. The son of a small tradesman, he studied at Upsala and became a teacher in an elementary school in Stockholm before turning to journalism and drama. His first play, 'Master Olof' was produced in 1872 and was unsuccessful. Later he acquired a post at the royal library in Stockholm and while there wrote his first novel, 'The Red Room' in 1879. Research August Strindberg
Count Carl Gustav Tessin was a Swedish statesman. He was born in 1695 at Stockholm and died in 1770. The son of a distinguished architect, he was ambassador in Vienna in 1725 and was notable as one of the leaders of the Hat party. From 1739 until 1742 he was ambassador at the French court. Research Carl Tessin
Charles XII (also known as Alexander of the North) was king of Sweden. He was born in 1682 at Stockholm and died in 1718. He was the sole surviving son of Charles XI, whom he succeeded in 1697, when he was but fifteen years old, he was declared of age by the estates. To his jealous neighbours this seemed a favourable time to humble the pride of Sweden. Frederick IV of Denmark, Augustus I. of Poland, and the Czar Peter I of Russia concluded an alliance which resulted in war against Sweden. With the aid of an English and Dutch squadron the Danes were soon made to sign peace, but Augustus of Saxony and Poland, and the czar were still in the field. Rapidly transporting 20,000 men to Livonia, Charles XII stormed the czar's camp at Nerva, slaying 30,000 Russians and dispersing the rest on the 30th of November 1700. Crossing the Dwina he then attacked the Saxons and gained a decisive victory. Following up this advantage he won the battle of Clissau, drove Augustus from Poland, had the crown of that country conferred on Stanislaus Leczinsky, and dictated the conditions of peace at Altranstadt in Saxony in 1706.
In September, 1707, the Swedes left Saxony, Charles XII taking the shortest route to Moscow. At Smolensk he altered his plan, deviated to the Ukraine to gain the help of the Cossacks, and weakened his army very seriously by difficult marches through a district extremely cold and ill supplied with provisions. In this condition Peter marched upon him with 70,000 men, and defeated him completely at Pultawa. Charles XII fled with a small guard and found refuge and an honourable reception at Bender, in the Turkish territory. Here he managed to persuade the Porte to declare war against Russia. The armies met on the banks of the Pruth on July the 1st 1711 and Peter seemed nearly ruined, when his wife, Catharine, succeeded in bribing the grand vizier, and procured a peace in which the interests of Charles XII were neglected.
The attempts of Charles XII to rekindle a war were vain, and after having spent some years at Bender he was forced by the Turkish government to leave. Arriving in his own country in 1714, he set about the measures necessary to defend the kingdom, and the fortunes of Sweden were beginning to assume a favourable aspect when he was slain by a cannon-ball as he was besieging Frederikshall on November the 30th, 1718. Firmness, valour, and love of justice were the great features in the character of Charles XII, but were disfigured by an obstinate rashness. After his deathSweden sank from the rank of a leading power. Research Charles XII
Emanuel Swedenborg (born Emanuel Svedberg) was a Swedish religious thinker. He was in 1688 at Stockholm and died in 1772. Educated at Upsala University, afterwards studying at Oxford, Utrecht and Paris in 1716 he was appointed an assessor in the royal college of mines. In 1719 the family was ennobled, assuming the name of Swedenborg. In the Upper House he promoted many reforms, but devoted himself mainly to his official work in mineralogy and engineering. In 1747 he left scientific work, claiming he had been granted insight into the spiritual world by direct revelation, spending the rest of his life in meditation and exposition, living mainly in London and Amsterdam. Research Emanuel Swedenborg
George Joseph Vogler was a German organist, composer and teacher. He was born in 1749 and died in 1814. He established music schools at Mannheim, Stockholm and Darmstadt. Research George Vogler
Georg Stjernhielm was a Swedish poet, etymologist, mathematician and philosopher. He was born in 1598 and died in 1672. Educated at Greifswald he travelled through Europe before becoming a teacher at Stockholm. Research Georg Stjernhielm
Gustavus II (Gustavus Adolphus) was a king of Sweden. He was born in 1594 at Stockholm and died in 1632. He was a son of Charles IX. He ascended the throne in 1611 and his tact and wisdom gradually gained over the wealthy nobles whom his stern father had attempted to crush, and persuaded them to take the chief burdens on their own shoulders. Yet he protected the lower classes from the tyranny of the landowners, reorganised the government and placed it in the hands of a well organised bureaucracy. He built new towns and encouraged commerce, and in 1624 granted a charter to the Swedish West India Company founded by William Usselinx, and pledged himself to subscribe 400,000 daler of the royal treasury to the company's stock. Research Gustavus II
Gustavus IV (Adolphus) was a king of Sweden. He was born in 1778 at Stockholm and died in 1837. The son of Gustavus III, succeeded his father, on the 29th of March, 1792. On assuming power Gustavus IV showed that he had inherited his father's hatred of the principles of the French revolution, which he carried to the extent of fanaticism. After the Peace of Tilsit he allied himself to England, lost Finland to the Russians and Stralsund, and Rugen to the French. In 1809 his army and nobles combined in a coup and he was removed from the throne and went into exile in Switzerland, his uncle, the Duke of Sudermania, being proclaimed king under the title of Charles XIII. Research Gustavus IV
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Abraham Rydberg
